In the end, common sense won out over dollars and cents. Randy Moss wanted to be with the Patriots and the Patriots wanted Randy Moss, so the sides agreed to extend their mutually-beneficial marriage yesterday, settling on a three-year, $27 million deal that included a $12 million signing bonus as part of a total of $15 million in guarantees.
According to his agent, Tim DiPiero, Moss, who set an NFL record with 23 touchdown receptions last season, took less money to remain a Patriot.
"Randy was serious about wanting to stay," said DiPiero in an e-mail. "Because of Randy's record-breaking year, the interest in him was very high. Randy took less than he could have to rejoin his teammates."
DiPiero said he wouldn't comment on which other teams were interested in Moss, but according to a league source, the Philadelphia Eagles, who swooped in and signed Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel to a six-year, $57 million deal last Friday, made a serious play.
Moss's comeback route to Foxborough wasn't as smooth as anticipated.
The melodrama was set up when the Patriots elected not to place the $7.84 million franchise tag on their No. 1 receiver, which would have given New England the right to match any offer from another team or receive two first-round picks as compensation. When Moss and the team couldn't reach agreement on a contract before 12:01 a.m. last Friday, Moss became a free agent.
The sides were close all along on total money; it was the guaranteed money that was the sticking point.
That left Moss to play the field. But ultimately the pull of playing for the Patriots, who had a perfect 16-0 regular season and finished 18-1, and with quarterback Tom Brady lured Moss back.
Via his website, therealrandymoss.com, Moss thanked the fans for their support and well wishes and expressed his feelings on his new contract.
"I'm very happy to get the business end of football done. Now, we can concentrate on football," said Moss on the website. "I'm ready to get back. We have some unfinished business to take care of."
Dogged by questions about his com mitment, his character, and his durability, Moss, 31, restored both his name and his game in his first season in New England, catching 98 passes for a franchise-record 1,493 yards and breaking Jerry Rice's NFL record of 22 touchdown receptions set in 1987.
The presence of Moss provided Brady with a much-needed No. 1 receiver, and helped transform the Patriots offense into the most prolific in NFL history (589 points). The redoubtable receiver, who ranks fourth on the NFL's all-time touchdown reception register with 124, backed up the declaration he made on the day he was traded to the Patriots from the Oakland Raiders that "the Moss of old is back."
